VILLARREAL, Jan 18 (SW) - Argentinian striker Luciano Figueroa will be leaving Villarreal for River Plate, and is to be replaced with current Monterrey forward Guillermo Franco.

Figueroa will be joining River Plate until the summer of 2007, after which he is to return to Villarreal. At the Spanish side, the Argentinian international player has a contract until 2009.

The 29-year-old striker Guillermo Franco was born in Argentina but has the Mexican nationality. The player will be reunited with coach Manuel Pellegrini, with whom he used to work at San Lorenzo in Argentina.

Franco has signed a deal for the coming three and a half years.